Christmas tree stand



July 29, 1952 2,605,067

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Filed D80. 1, 1950 2 l Andrew E Lindsall 1N VEN TOR.

y 29, 1952 A. E. LINDSELL CHRISTMAS TREE STAND 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Dec. 1 1950 Andrew E Lindse/I INVENTOR.

(WW 3m Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED stares, rarest *orrlce 7 Andrew E. Lindsell, Jamaica, N. Y.

ApplicationDecember 1, 1950, Serial No. 198,554 1 v The present invention relates to improvements in Christmas tree stands and more particularly to the type of stand adapted to support a Christmas tree for rotating and pivoting movement whereby the tree may be easily decorated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel Christmas tree stand embodying a base means having extensible legs for firmly supporting a Christmas tree and wherein a bearing supporting meansis pivotally mounted on the base means, areceptacle means being rotatably disposed; in the bearing support means and receiving the, base of the tree, whereby the tree may be clamped axially within thereceptacle means and moved to any desired -.incli ned position for ready access to any part thereof, therotational movement of the receptacle means permitting rotation of the, C-hristmasgtreesfor decoration pur poses.

A further object on-the present invention is to provide; an improved Christmas tree stand which will eliminate,thenecessity of "employing means upon which to. stand for the purpose of decorating- Christmas trees and which will greatly expedite the decoration ofthe tree.

Still another object of the present invention is taprovide a Christmas tree stand having extensible legs whereby-the stability of the assembly will bev assured and so that when a Christmas tree stand is to be mounted on an inclined surface, the'tree will be firmly supported in a substantially vertical position. e c

vA still further,- object of the present invention is; to provide a novel receptacle means for receiving the base of a Christmas treewherein clamping means are provided for firmly holding the peripheral portion or the base of the tree and wherein a pinis provided in the baseof the re ceptacle forengagement with the bottom of the tree, the receptacle being of water-tight ccnstruc tion whereby liquidimay be contained therein for maintaining the treein a li've'condition.

Still otherlobject's'of the present invention are to provide such mea'nslthatare simplein construction, easily assernblelil, economical of manufacture and of general superiority,

Variousother objectsjand advalfitages' will become apparent frorn'th'e detailed" description to follow. The bestforrnsin which I have contemplated applying my invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the Christmas tree stand of the present invention;

' Figure 2 is a top plan view of' thestand Figure l with. broken;

one of the eXtensiblef legs-shown V 9 Claims. (01. 243-45) Figure 3 is a vertical stahtially' along Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showingthe bearing means employed in'conjunction with the present invention; I

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view showing one of the extensible elements employed for extending the length of the legs, of the present invention; and.

Figure 6 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals. designate like parts throughout, the numeral l0 designates generally the base supporting means of the present invention, the numeral 2 designates generally the bearing means pivotally supported on thesupporting means I0, and the numeral I4 designates generally the receptacle means which is rotatably disposed in the bearing means I 2 and which is adapted to receive the base ofa Christmas tree, not shown. 7 V I The base supporting means Ill includes a central body portion ['6 which is of non-circular hollow construction and has a plurality of hollow and substantially rectangularly cross-sectioned legs i8 extending radially therefromand formed integrally therewith. The body portion [6 of the base supporting means 10 is also provided with a plurality of sockets 20 which are internally threaded for receiving conventional Christmas tree bulbs. The sockets 2B .are provided with lead wires 22 for connection to a common source of electrical power for illuminating purposes.

Extensible leg elements 24, formed from elon gated fiat bars 26- and foot elements 28 are slidably received Within the radially extending members l8, as best seen in Figure 3. The bars 26 are formed with elongated slots 39 adapted to be slidably received on the screws 32 which are secured to the flat upper walls Moi theradially extending legs I 8. Nuts 35 are provided on the screws 32 for securing the foot portions 24 in their desired relation to the leg portions l 8. The foot portions 28 may be integrally formed with the fiat bars 26 by means of welds or other conventional means. Upwardly extending from and integrally formedwith thebody portion {Bare a pair of supporting ears 35 and 38 which are formed with vertically extending slots illand 42 at their upper ends. The lower ends ofgtheslots ib-and {EL-are of substantially circular cross-section ijorv receiving the bearing portions 44 andtiipf, the bearing means $2., Screw elements 49 and 59 pass through the free ends of the upwardly extending cars 36 and 38 for adjustably clamping the bearing portions 44 and 4B of the bearing means [2 so that the pivoting movement of the bearing means l2 may be adjustably controlled.

The bearing means I2 is comprised of a ring portion 52 which has a pair of downwardly extending cars 54 and B integrally formed therewith. The ears 54 and 56 have the bearing portions 44 and 46 later-ally extending therefrom for positioning in the slots and 42, as above mentioned. Pivot adjusting screws 62 and 54 are threadably received in the recesses 66 and B8 axially formed in the bearing portions 44 and 46 of the bearing means l2 and washers 58 and 60 are disposed under the heads. of the adjusting screws 62 and 64. When it is desired to secure the bearing means I2 in a preselected inclined position, the screw means 62 and 64 are threaded inwardly in the recesses 66 and 68 until the washers 58 and B0 are in compressed relation between the heads of the screws 62 and 64 and the upwardly extending ears 36 and 38.

The ring portion 52 is formed with a groove on its inner surface at 61 and the receptacle means M has a complementary groove 69 where by a plurality of ball bearings may be disposed in the complementary groove to provide a bearing support for the receptacle means l4.

The receptacle means I4 is comprised of a substantially cylindrical member l2 having a bottom 14 formed with an upwardly extending pin it which is adapted to fixedly engage the bottom of a Christmas tree for holding the same. The upper end of the receptacle means 14 is provided with a plurality of clamping screws 18 which are threadedly engaged in the upstanding ears 89 integrally formed with the cylindrical member 12. Thus, the trunk of the Christmas tree may be held in clamped axial alignment with the receptacle means i 4.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, it, is believed that the operation of the Christmas tree stand will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. The Christmas tree may have its trunk inserted into the receptacle means l4with the pin 16 engaging its lower end and the clamping screws 18 threaded thereagainst for fixedly supporting the same. The set screw 82 which is threaded through a bore in the boss'84 on the ring portion 52 of the bearing means [2 may be adjusted to permit rotational movement of the receptacle means I4 with respect tov the bearing means l2 and the adjusting screws 62 and 64 may be threaded outwardly to permit pivoting movement of the bearing means l2. It will thus be seen that the Christmas tree may be pivoted to its desired angular relation and there clamped by means of the adjusting screws 62 and 64. The Christmas tree may then be decorated while rotating the same to greatly facilitate the process. Upon completion of the decoration, the adjusting screws 62 and 64 will be loosened and the tree pivoted to a vertical position whereupon the adjusting screws 62 and 64 may be again threaded inwardly to maintain the bearing means l2 from pivoting movement. The set screw 82 may then be threaded inwardly to prevent rotational movement of the receptacle means I, as desired.

In the preferred embodiment of Figure 6, the structure is substantially the same as that described in Figure 1 with the exception that the supporting cars 36' and 3B are of greater height than the cars 36 and 38. Further, the bearing means i2 differs from the bearing means 12 by having a counterweight portion integrally formed with the lower ends of the downwardly extending cars 54' and 56'. The lower end of the counterweight is provided with tension springs 51 which are connected at their outer ends to the screws 32.

It will thus be seen that the preferred embodiment may be angularly pivoted in opposition to a counterweight means which effectively stabilizes the stand from tipping while decorating.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally sup-- ported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, said bearing means including a ring portion having a pair of downwardly extending ears, means on said base supporting means for pivotal connection to said ears, said ring portion being provided with a groove on its inner periphery, said receptacle means being provided with a complementary groove, and ball bearings disposed in the race-formed by the complementary grooves.

2. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, said bearing means including a ring portion having a pair of downwardly extending ears, means on said base supporting means for pivotal connection to said ears, said ring portion being provided with a groove on its inner periphery, said receptacle means being provided with a complementary groove, and ball bearings disposed in the race formed by the complementary grooves, and set screw means in said ring portion for securing the receptacle means from rotation with respect to the bearing means.

3. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means. said receptacle means including a substantially cylindrical container having an open upper end, and means for holding the base of a tree therein.

4. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said'supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree. and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, said last named mean including a washer friction means.

5. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and counterbalancing means associated with said bearing means.

6. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means to prevent rotational movement oi said receptacle means, and counterbalancing means associated with said bearing means.

7. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, means to prevent rotational movement of said receptacle means, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, and counterbalancing means associated with said bearing means.

8. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, said bearing means including a ring portion having a pair of downwardly extending ears, means on said base supporting means for pivotal connection to said ears, said ring portion being provided with a groove on its inner periphery, said receptacle means being provided with a, complementary groove, and ball bearings disposed in therace formed by the com- 6 plementary grooves, the lower end portion of said ears having a counterweight integrally formed therewith.

9. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base supporting means, bearing means pivotally supported by said supporting means, a receptacle means rotatably supported in said bearing means for pivoting movement therewith and adapted to clampingly receive the base of a Christmas tree, and means for preventing pivoting movement of said bearing means, said bearing means including a ring portion having a pair of downwardly extending ears, means on said base supporting means for pivotal connection to said ears, said ring portion being provided with a groove on its inner periphery, said receptacle means being provided with a complementary groove, and ball bearings disposed in the race formed by the complementary grooves, the lower end portion of said ears having a counterweight integrally formed therewith, and at least one spring connecting the underside of said counterweight with an intermediate portion of said base supporting means.

ANDREW E. LINDSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 626,514 Wagner June 6, 1899 1,627,490 -Disibio May 3, 1927 

